Sith with us and enjoy the first new Star Wars home video release in years! The Force Awakens has hit the shelves and promotional displays at various stores in various forms (differences in packaging, not in the discs) and most of us have picked up our copy (or, in the case of some of our friends, a copy of each version), put it into our DVD/Blu-Ray players, and enjoyed the movie (again) and the bonus features. In the TechnoRetro Dads STAR WARS SCRAPBOOK, shazbazzar and JediShua recount all the various home video releases and play a round of “need ‘em, got ‘em” with all the versions sitting on our shelves.

In the NEWS, another “Star” franchise is in the works. SuperFriend Jeremy the Spider-Pan from The Neverland Podcast let us know that Shawn Levy (Real Steel, Night at the Museum) is set to direct a remake of 1984’s Starman (a favorite of ours). Beymax is coming to your TV screen in a Disney XD Big Hero 6 series, Warner Brothers’ Animaniacs are on Netflix, and Dungeons & Dragons tries to find success on the silver screen as producer Roy Lee (The LEGO Movie, The Ring) promises a Guardians of the Galaxy styled film with The Lord of the Rings look.

But the biggest NEWS this week is Star Wars. The highly-anticipated Rogue One trailer is finally released, The Force Awakens comes home, and the ‘Dads talk about the Rebels season finale. With Rex, Maul, Anakin, and Ahsoka, this stellar episode of Rebels measured up to the standard set by The Clone Wars and leaves the question of “The Fate of Ahsoka” up to interpretation…for now. JediShua and shazbazzar revisit Ahsoka’s past (with our very first reactions to her departure from the Jedi Order three years ago) and reach their conclusions about her current status.

Building on last week’s comments about Star Wars arising from Lucas’s desire to make a Buck Rogers movie, shazbazzar corrects his former assertion and points out that it was Flash Gordon that George Lucas intended to make. However, the sound effects mentioned in last week’s episode are in both of those classic serials from the 1930s.

“The FlashBuck Menace” is filled with memories of the past and hopes for the future with loads and loads of Star Wars talk. If you like what you hear, tweet all about it (#TechnoRetro), post on Facebook, and rate/review the show on iTunes and Stitcher. You can even leave us a voicemail at (209) TR-TRDad (209)878-7323 or record a message on your computer or phone and send us an electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com. Be sure to take this month’s cereal challenge and let us know whether TRIX are just for kids.

’Tis the season of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and of course the ‘Dads seen it…once or twice. But as soon as shazbazzar and JediShua hit the mall for a few final moments of holiday shopping, they’re drawn in again and get in line for J.J. Abrams’ vision of Star Wars. Bumping into several SuperFriends along the way and hearing some classic Christmas MUZAK is all part of the in-line experience this Monday morning.

With Star Wars in the air, it’s only fitting to hear some updated tunes from Christmas in the Stars from Pony1Kenobi, Tony Thaxton with Chris Farren, and Jordan D. White. PLUS: Animaniacs, KITT from Knight Rider, Chris Hardwick, National Lampoon, and even SPIKE TV join in with tidings appropriate for the season. Add in some classics from The Beatles, The Drifters, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Ginny Simms as well as some newer tunes from John Anaelio, Justin Cole, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and High Adventure and you have a mix that will take the “BAH” out of anyone’s HUMBUG this week.

With JediShua at the slot machines and shazbazzar in white water, things were moving rather rapidly this past week. In fact, even this episode will pass by quickly (after all the excitement, the Dads needed a breather). But TechnoRetro Dads will return next week for a full 77 minute episode.

In the meantime, check out the recent video buzz around the set of the next Star Wars movie and be sure to check out the newest Marvel feature, Guardians of the Galaxy. (Maybe you will even want to research post modern abstract expressionism. Or maybe not.)

Be sure to lend your voice to the show. Give us a call at (209) TR-TRDad to participate in the Lazy Book Club, Cereal Challenges, or Theme Park Summer. Or record a voice message and send us an electronic-M at podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Role-playing games range from MMORPGs to imaginative home-spun creations by creative college students, but they all stem from the classic Dungeons and Dragons. JediShua and shazbazzar recall their first exposure to the realm of D&D in elementary school to some fond memories with favorite characters. SuperFriends Andrew Pascal, Chris Haifley, and James Sprattley come along to talk about their love of the game as well as introduce their upcoming film documenting the rise and fall of the D&D empire of Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and the battle for control of TSR. Their Kickstarter campaign for finishing funds continues until July 20th, so you can lend your support to this film!

PLUS: Check out some news (or rumors) about Carrie Fisher’s daughter, the Ralph McQuarrie Kickstarter, and the Ministry of Silly Walks before eating fried cuisine during the Theme Park Summer.

You can participate in TechnoRetro Dads through the Lazy Book Club, Cereal Challenges, or Theme Park Summer by contacting us via electronic-M at podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com or leave a voice mail at (209)878-7323 (TR-TRDAD). You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

JediShua is determined to rescue the Kobayashi Maru while shazbazzar continues to battle Hoth-like conditions in the south, but that’s not important right now.

The TechnoRetro Dads are in the midst of a thirty year-old debate over one of the most controversial topics of our generation. Undaunted by the challenge, both shazbazzar and JediShua put up the best arguments for each side of the Great Bounty Hunter Pronunciation Dilemma.

Plus: news about Star Wars, preorders for “Retro Action” figures, Robotland in Seoul, unexpected history lessons, and more talk of Atari (we may be on to something here).

All this and more on the very political (not really) Presidents’ Day episode of TechnoRetro Dads.

Don’t forget the Froot Loops Science Project and the Lazy Book Club featuring Ernie Cline’s novel, Ready Player One. Send us an electronic-M with your discoveries and voice messages to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com, or you can call us at (209)TR-TRDad. We want to hear from you!

While we’re all recovering from a week of Life Day celebrations, here’s an abbreviated (read: shorter) version of TechnoRetro Dads to help you get your work week started off on the right beat.

The “Name that Tune” contest has a winner with two out of three segment themes being guessed by our friend and longtime podcaster, WOMP. Congratulations! But you still have an opportunity to guess the “NEWS” segment theme and/or band if you want to be a winner, too, so send in your best guess to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

With some wonky randomness, debate on the nicknames of Bill Gates and Bill Watterson, reverse-image promo posters, and the introduction of the hoverboard in 1989, join shazbazzar and JediShua on a trip back and forth through time on this week’s episode of TechnoRetro Dads. (And be sure to leave us a great review on iTunes, as well. We really do appreciate it!)

With a bit of a chill in the air and the leaves leaving their branches for a spot on the lawn, memories get revived as we head into the holiday season (even if shaz has some confusion in his memories). Before you get into your work week, take a bit of a break with TechnoRetro Dads in this special episode remembering The Star Wars Holiday Special as we prepare for the 35th anniversary of the one-time showing on CBS.

Our good friend Jorbex stops by for a chat about an old podcast prank, SKot from StarWarsHolidaySpecial.com tells us about his memories of the Holiday Special, and Paul Bateman from the Star Wars Influences podcast on ShotGlass Digital reveals some interesting information about how Ralph McQuarrie got involved in one of the most hyped parts of that galaxy far, far away.

All this with News, History Lessons, and a bit of fun packed in for good measure makes this a TechnoRetro Dads you won’t want to miss!

Return to a time when Ronald McDonald would do it all for you, including host a fully choreographed dance number with aliens disguised as teddy bears and government agents. That’s just a taste of what we remember this week on TechnoRetro Dads!

With some news and history lessons about some of our favorite franchises dating back to the disco decade, challenges for listeners and friends, and a few tips and tricks for movies and fantasy football drafts, you would have to be Lee Majors to avoid this China Groovin episode of TechnoRetro Dads!

Save the Cat! After hearing from Kathleen Kennedy at Celebration Europe that even she thinks movies tend to all follow the same pattern, we discover the screenwriting formula has been penned and published in a format that gets down to minute-by-minute details. JediShua also provides some delicious movie tips and we have loads of retro news about this week in the 70s and 80s!

Plus, with football season just around the corner, we’ve extended the invitation to get into the TechnoRetro Dads Fantasy Football League. So plug in your earbuds and join your buds shazbazzar and JediShua as we begin another work week!